Miss World Beauty With A Purpose Tour: A Force for Good in Sabah
The Miss World organization, known for its commitment to “Beauty With A Purpose,” recently concluded its impactful tour of Sabah, Malaysia, leaving a lasting legacy of community support, environmental conservation, and tourism promotion. This initiative, led by Mrs. Julia Morley CBE, CEO and Chairman of the Miss World Organization, and Dr. Sean Wong, CEO of HyperLive Entertainment, featured the reigning Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic and Miss World Malaysia 2023 Saroop Roshi. The tour, spanning five days in July, went beyond just celebrating beauty, showcasing a strong commitment to making a positive difference in Sabah.
A Multifaceted Approach to Making a Difference
The Miss World team actively engaged in various meaningful activities aimed at benefiting the Sabah community and raising global awareness about its unique attractions. Here are some key highlights of the tour:
Environmental Conservation
The tour kicked off with the Sail Malaysia Tuaran Beach Cleaning event, where Mrs. Morley, Miss Pyszkova, and local dignitaries, including Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah and Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, joined forces with volunteers to clean up Tuaran Beach. They collected an impressive 402 kilograms of rubbish, demonstrating their commitment to preserving Sabah’s pristine coastline.
Community Support
The Miss World team extended a helping hand to those in need, particularly in the wake of recent floods in Sabah. Alongside the 2024 Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) winners and the UNK national committees, they provided essential disaster relief packages and assisted with home clean-up efforts in Kg. Pogunon. This initiative received support from Discover Sabah Digital, Media Works Solutions, Everrise Supermarket, and Bataras Sdn Bhd, with the H3ROS 4×4 Club Sabah ensuring timely delivery of aid.
Healthcare and Education
The team’s visit to the Sabah Autism Society highlighted their dedication to supporting children with special healthcare needs. They also visited the Palliative Care Association, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to addressing health and well-being. Mrs. Morley made generous donations of US$10,000 and US$20,000 to the Sabah Autism Society and Palliative Care Association, respectively.
Fostering Hope and Dreams
Through the support of philanthropist Datuk Susan Chang, the Miss World team visited Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-kanak Likas, bringing gifts and celebrating birthdays for 45 children battling cancer and thalassemia. This heartwarming gesture brought smiles and hope to these young warriors, while the team pledged a donation of RM 10,000 per year for the next three years to support the oncology department.
Ten of these children had the unique opportunity to attend a high tea session at the Sabah State Palace, hosted by the esteemed Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Norlidah Binti Tan Sri R.M Jasni, The Consort of The Head Of State Of Sabah and Adviser to Nur Jauhar Foundation, and Brig Gen Datuk Haji Al Hambra Tun Juhar, Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative House and Chairman of Nur Jauhar Foundation. This event, specially organized to welcome the Miss World team, showcased the importance of recognizing and supporting disadvantaged families. During this session, the Miss World team presented a donation cheque of RM 50,000, generously donated by SunStrong Entertainment to Yayasan Nur Jauhar, further highlighting their commitment to supporting disadvantaged families. SunStrong Entertainment, founded by entrepreneur Mr. Jment Lim, is also the Main Presenter of Miss World Malaysia 2024.
Promoting Environmental Sustainability
The Miss World team’s commitment to environmental sustainability was evident in their tree planting activity in collaboration with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK). Alongside Mrs. Morley, Dr. Wong, and Miss Pyszkova, Datuk Susan Chang, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of MICCI Sabah, planted trees named “Miss World Trees of Hope.” This initiative aimed to raise awareness about the importance of loving nature and preserving our ecosystem for future generations, underscoring the team’s dedication to environmental health and sustainability.
A Lasting Legacy of Empowerment
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah, under the leadership of Minister YB Datuk Christina Liew, fully supported the Miss World team’s five-day visit, acknowledging its importance in promoting Sabah and advancing meaningful social causes.
The activities and efforts of the Miss World team will be featured in the Beauty With A Purpose documentary, showcasing the region’s warm-hearted residents, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage. This will further promote Sabah tourism and highlight the impact of their initiatives.
Mrs. Morley’s leadership and vision have transformed the Miss World platform into a powerful force for good, impacting lives worldwide. Miss Pyszkova’s participation exemplifies the role of beauty queens as symbols of hope and champions for positive change. Together, they have inspired the Sabah community and beyond to join in the mission of making the world a better place.
The Miss World Beauty With A Purpose Tour In Sabah has been a resounding success, creating a tremendous impact on the local community and effectively promoting Sabah tourism. This meaningful trip has demonstrated the power of compassion, community support, and environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting legacy in Sabah.
A Multifaceted Approach to Promoting Tourism
The Miss World Beauty With A Purpose Tour is a testament to the power of using a platform like Miss World to achieve positive social impact. This tour has successfully integrated tourism promotion with community engagement and environmental conservation, creating a holistic and sustainable approach to development in Sabah. By actively participating in community initiatives, the Miss World team has not only promoted tourism but also built goodwill and understanding between the local community and the international audience. This approach, which combines cultural exchange with social responsibility, is likely to have a lasting impact on Sabah’s tourism sector.
The Miss World Beauty With A Purpose Tour serves as an inspiration for others to follow suit in using their platform to advocate for positive change and promote sustainable tourism practices. It demonstrates that beauty contests can be much more than just beauty pageants; they can be catalysts for progress and positive change in the world.
